“Of course, there’s some doubt,” the director shared. “I’m telling you that because I love him so much. That’s the torture that I’m in right now because it’s literally if it were to happen to your son and your child. How would you feel?” (RELATED: Charges Against Jussie Smollett Dropped)

“You would feel: ‘Please, God, please let there be that glimmer of hope that there is some truth in this story,'” he added. “That’s why it’s been so painful. It was a flood of pain.”

At one point, Daniels appeared to dodge the question about whether he thinks it was a “hoax” or not, saying, “We weren’t there. I can’t judge [Smollett]. That’s only for the fucking lady or man with that black robe and God. I had to detach myself and stop calling him, because it was taking away the time I have for my kids, the time I have for my partner. It was affecting my spirit and other shows, everything.”

As previously reported, Smollett initially claimed he was attacked on the streets of his home in Chicago by two men who he said threw a rope around his neck and poured a bleach-like substance on him. They also reportedly yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him.

By the end of the investigation, however, police concluded the attack on the “Empire” star was a hoax. Soon after, he was arrested and faced 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct for making a false police report.

Soon after, all charges against him were dropped by the State Attorney’s office.